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Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta
Nepeta x 'Cat's Pajamas'
Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta is a great catmint when you want the blue flower power without the floppy, oversized habit. It stays compact, blooms for a long stretch, and works beautifully along sunny walkways, at the front of borders, in containers, or repeated around roses and flowering shrubs. I like it for pollinator gardens and deer-aware landscapes because it brings fragrance, color, and durability with very little fuss. Give it full sun and a quick trim after bloom, and it keeps looking sharp.
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Compact Blue Catmint for Sunny Borders, Containers, and Pollinator Gardens
A Tidy Catmint with Big Color.
Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta is a compact catmint grown for its long-lasting blue-purple flowers, aromatic foliage, and neat mounded habit. This smaller selection gives gardeners the soft, colorful look of catmint without the sprawling size of older varieties. It is an excellent choice for sunny borders, walkway edges, patio containers, pollinator gardens, cottage plantings, and low-maintenance perennial beds.
Long Blooming Blue-Purple Flowers.
Cat’s Pajamas produces masses of indigo-blue to purple-blue flowers from late spring into summer, often continuing with repeat bloom when lightly trimmed after the first flush. The flowers appear along the stems and create a full, colorful display that looks especially good in drifts or repeated along the front of a planting bed. It's cool flower color pairs beautifully with yellow, pink, white, orange, and purple perennials.
Fragrant Foliage and Pollinator Value.
The aromatic gray-green foliage adds soft texture and fragrance, especially when brushed along a path or patio edge. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators are drawn to the flowers, making this a useful perennial for habitat-friendly gardens. Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta is a strong choice where color, fragrance, and pollinator activity are all part of the design goal.
Deer Resistant and Drought Tolerant Once Established.
Catmint is well known for being deer resistant because its aromatic foliage is usually less appealing to browsing animals. Cat’s Pajamas is also drought-tolerant once established, making it a practical choice for sunny landscapes that need color without constant watering. No plant is completely deer-proof, but Nepeta is one of the better choices for sunny, deer-aware gardens.
Easy Care for Full Sun Plantings.
Plant Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta in full sun with well-drained soil. It grows well in average garden soil and usually does not need heavy fertilizer. After the first big bloom flush, shear or lightly trim plants to encourage fresh foliage and additional flowers. Use it along sunny paths, in containers, near roses, in pollinator borders, or repeated in low masses for a clean, colorful edge.
| Hardiness Zone: | 3-8 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 12 to 18 Inches |
| Mature Width: | 18 to 20 Inches |
| Sunlight: | Full sun; tolerates light part shade with reduced flowering |
| Soil | Average to lean, well-drained soil |
| Water | Average during establishment; drought tolerant once established |
| Bloom Time / Color | Late spring to late summer; indigo-blue to purple-blue flowers |
| Ornamental Features | Compact habit, long bloom season, blue-purple flowers, fragrant foliage |
| Wildlife Value | Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators |
| Resistance | Deer resistant, drought tolerant once established, heat tolerant, low maintenance |
| Landscape Uses | Sunny borders, edging, containers, pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, rose companions, mass plantings, rock gardens, walkway edges, low-maintenance perennial beds |
How to Care for Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta
Before you buy a Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta, make sure to read about the recommended care instructions to keep this plant healthy and thriving.
How should I plant Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta?
Plant Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta in full sun with well-drained soil. Choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun per day for the strongest bloom, tightest habit, and best overall performance. Avoid soggy soil or low areas where water sits after rain. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than the container. Set the crown level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, and water thoroughly. Space plants about 18 to 20 inches apart for a filled-in border or mass planting, allowing enough room for airflow and mature spread.
How often should I water Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta after planting?
Water Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta deeply after planting and keep the soil lightly moist while roots establish. During the first growing season, water when the top few inches of soil become dry, especially during hot or windy weather. Once established, Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta is drought tolerant and usually needs less supplemental water. Deep, occasional watering during extended dry periods is better than frequent shallow watering. Avoid constantly wet soil, which can weaken the plant.
When should I fertilize Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta?
Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta usually needs little to no fertilizer in average garden soil. If growth is weak, apply a light layer of compost or a low-rate slow-release fertilizer in spring as new growth begins. Avoid heavy feeding, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizer. Too much fertility can produce soft, floppy growth and fewer flowers. Full sun, good drainage, and light trimming are more important than rich soil.
When and how should I prune Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta?
Shear or lightly trim Cat’s Pajamas Nepeta after the first major bloom flush to encourage fresh foliage and repeat flowering. This keeps the plant tidy and helps extend the bloom display through summer. Cut back old stems in late fall after frost or in early spring before new growth emerges. If plants become crowded after a few years, divide clumps in spring to refresh growth and maintain a compact shape.
